CALGARY, Alberta and COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – Three members of the Mercyhurst College women's hockey team will be participating in their respective countries' training camps over the course of the next few days. Senior Bailey Bram (St. Anne, Manitoba) and sophomore Christine Bestland (Brunkild, Manitoba) are on Canada's National Women's Under-22/Development Team roster, while senior Kelley Steadman (Plattsburgh, NY) is on the roster at the 2011 USA Hockey Women's National Festival.

The Canadian International Hockey Academy takes place through Tuesday, August 16 in Rockland, Ontario. The Under-22 Team is split into two rosters during the academy and will take part in several practices and intrasquad games. Bram and Bestland are two of 80 players total participating in the academy (the Under-18 Team also taking part). Hockey Canada scouts and coaching staffs for both teams will continue to evaluate players when they return to their club teams for the 2011-12 season, in order to decide which Under-22 players will represent Canada at the 2012 MLP Cup next January in Germany.

Bram ranked fourth on the Lakers in scoring last season with 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists). She was a Patty Kazmaier Top-10 Finalist in 2010 after scoring a career-high 56 points, including 29 goals – also a personal best. The College Hockey America Rookie of the Year in 2009 has scored 133 career points in just 98 games in her three seasons at Mercyhurst. Bram helped the Canadian Under-18 Team to a silver medal at the World Championships in 2009.

Last year, Bestland finished fourth in the country in points by a rookie with 42 (18 goals, 24 assists), placing her on the All-CHA Rookie Team. She finished second on the team in power play goals (8) and game-winning goals (4). She participated in the 2010 Under-18 World Tournament for Canada, where she netted three goals and eight points.

Meanwhile, Steadman is one of 79 players competing at the USA Hockey Women's National Festival until August 20 in Blaine, Minnesota. The Festival will serve as the selection camp for the 2011 U.S. Women's Select Team that will compete in the International Ice Hockey Federation Eight Nations Tournament in Vierumäki, Finland, August 24-31. USA Hockey intends to announce the roster for the Select Team on August 19.

Steadman notched career highs in both goals (17) and points (29) last season for the Lakers. She was a member of the U.S. National Team at the IIHF Women's World Championships in 2011 and also played for the U.S. Under-18 Team World Championship Team in 2008. Steadman enters her senior season having scored 79 career points (106 games) in three seasons at Mercyhurst.

The Lakers open the 2011-12 season with an exhibition game on September 17 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center against Wilfrid Laurier. The start of the regular season takes place on September 30 when the Lakers host Quinnipiac.